Banding apparatus



Jan. 14, 1941. c. A. FLOOD BANDING- APPARATUS Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 2, 1940 C. A. FLOOD BANDING APPARATUS Jan. 14, 1941.

Filed April 2, 19 40 2 Shets-rSheet 2 Wu will) a d 3 i l. WW: K W W, 0 M K mm m m f M M 9 w W 5 i rm 7 1 6 .rlf m Fl! M w Z i w m A MM? m| Patented Jan. 14, 1941 STATES PATENT OFFIQE BANDING APPARATUS Application April 2, 19m, Serial No. 327,473

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for applying to frankfurters or other articles thermoplastic bands or other thermoplastic wrappers, that is bands or wrappers formed at least in part of thermoplastic material which is non-tacky at room temperature but which becomes tacky when heated to a higher temperature, the thermoplastic material usually comprising an adhesive coating covering a part or all of the inner surface of the band or wrapper. By applying wrappers in this way it is unnecessary to employ a moistening liquid in the application of the wnappers and the articles may be stored in moist places such as refrigerators without danger of the Wrappers becoming loosened by moisture.

Objects of the invention are to provide a thermoplastic wrapper applying device which is simple and economical to construct, which is reliable and durable in use, which guards the operator from the adhesive-softening heater, which can be made in light portable form and which is generally superior to prior wrapping devices of the type to which the invention relates.

In one aspect the invention comprises a heater having a face engageable with the wnapper for rendering tacky the adhesive surface of the wrapper and a support for holding the wrapper around the article while the Wrapped article is presented to the heater, the support being arranged to bring the wrapper against the aforesaid face, in response to relative movement of the support and heater, while the article is still on the support. In another aspect the invention comprises a base and a support movable toward and from the base between inoperative and operative positions, the base carrying a heater and a support having an opening to which the abutting parts of the wrapper may be presented to the heater when the wrapped article is laid over the opening and the support is moved to operative position. In winding the wrapper around the article before the article is applied to said opening the ends of the wrapper may be arranged in abutting relationship either by overlapping the ends with the outer face of the inner end contacting the inner face of the outer end, or by causing the inner faces of the ends to abut each other to form a tab extending radially from the article. In each case the thermoplastic adhesive need be applied only to the inner face of one end, the outer end in the case of the overlapping arrangement and either end in the other case. Also in each case the heating means is preferably arranged not only to apply heat to the thermoplastic adhesive but also to press. the abutting ends of the band together. If the ends are pressed in overlapping relationship against the article, the heater may be provided with a surface shaped to fit the article and the aforesaid opening may have a narrow bridge extending lengthwise of the band to maintain the ends in overlapping relationship while the support is moved to operative position, the heater having a recess to accommodate the bridge.

For the purpose of illustrating the genus of the invention typical embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a top plan View of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal central section of the same embodiment, showingthe parts in inoperative position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, showing the support depressed to operative position;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the heater, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a banded frankfurter;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a modification of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a similar view with the cover par-tsremoved;

Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section of the modification showing parts in elevation and showing the support in inoperative position;

Fig. 10 is a similar .view showing the parts in operative position; and

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of an article having a band applied as illustrated in Figs. '7 to 10.

The particular embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive comprises a base I having upstanding end walls .2 and 3 and side walls 4. Pivotally mounted on the side walls by means of pivot pins 5 is a support 6 comprising side walls I and end wall 8 and cover plates 9 and H] which are secured to flanges II and 12 on the side and end walls by means of screws I13. Disposed in the end B of the support 6 is a slot M to receive a pin l5 projecting from the end 2 of the base I. Interposed between the base I and the cover 9l0 is a compression spring 16 which is kept from buckling by post I! mounted on the base, a plate l8 being mounted on the cover 9 by means of a screw I9 to serve as a bearing for the upper end of the spring 16. The cover 6 is normally held in the upper inoperative position shown in Fig. 2, with the pin bearing against the lower end of the slot M, by means of the spring I6. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the juxtaposed ends of the cover 9-48 are shaped to form a transverse recess 2| which has approximately the same degree of curvature as the frankfurter F to be banded. Extending through the cover at the middle of the recess is an opening 22, the width of the opening being approximately equal to the width of the band B to be applied to the frankfurter. Extending across the middle of the opening is a support 23 in the form of stiff wire having its ends embedded in the cover 9l0 which is preferably formed of Bakelite or other moulded material. Extending lengthwise of the cover in alignment with the sides of the opening are marks to'indic-ate the location of the opening when the opening is covered by an article.

Mounted on the base I by means of a bracket 24 is a heater 25 which is presented to the opening 22 when the support 6 is moved from the inoperative position shown in Fig. 2 to the operative position shown in Fig. 3. The upper face of the heater 25 has approximately the same degree of concavity as the recess 2| and is provided with a groove 25 to accommodate the wire 23. The heater 25 has a transverse bore 2'! to receive the heating coil 28 which is supplied with current through wires 29 and a high-low switch 38 mounted on the cover 9 with a handle 3| above the cover. As shown in Fig. 5 the heating coil may be sealed in the heater 25 by means of sealing material 32.

The preferred mode of operating the device shown in Figs. 1 to 5 is to wrap a band B around the frankfurter F until the inner end of the band may be held in position by the outer end of the band when the frankfurter is laid on the cover 9 in the position shown in Fig. 2. The frankfurter is then moved to the recess 2!, slightly rotating it in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 while sliding it along the cover, thereby completely to wrap the band. After the frankfurter is seated in the recess 2! with the outer end of the handheld in overlapping relationship over the inner end of the band by means of the wire 23 the support 6' is swung from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 by downward pressure on the frankfurter. When the parts reach the position shown in Fig. 3 the overlapping ends of the band are compressed together between the frankfurter and the concave face of the heater 25, thereby softening the thermoplastic coating of adhesive on the inner face of the outer end of the band sufficiently to cause the two ends of the band to adhere together. Then when the banded frankfurter is moved from the device the spring l6 returns the cover to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The apparatus shown in Figs. '7 to 10 is designed to apply a band B to a frankfurter or other article F with the inner faces of the ends of the band cemented together in the position shown in Fig. 10 to form a radial tab T (Fig. 11). Most of the parts of this modification are like those of the first embodiment, corresponding parts being correspondingly designated. However, the modification differs from the first embodiment in the following respects. Instead of having a single heater mounted in fixed position on the base, the modification has two heaters and mounted in the ends of arms 66 and 81 which are fastened to rods 68 and 69 pivoted in upstanding lugs on the sides i of the base I, although one of the heaters may be omitted for most purposes. Bridging the sides I of the cover 6' are rods lil which extend through slots in the opposing ends of the arms 66 and t1.

To apply a band with the apparatus shown in Figs. '7 to 10, the band is wrapped around the article with the ends of the band projecting radially from the article, after which the banded article is placed in the recess 6ii6l as shown in Fig. 9. Then when the cover is depressed to the position shown in Fig. 10, by downward pressure on the article, the projecting ends of the band are pinched together between the opposing faces of the heaters 55 and 65 in a toggle action produced by the rods 70 engaging in the slots in the arms 66 and El. After the parts have been held for a moment in the position shown in Fig. 10 the cover is permitted to rise under the influence of the spring H5 by releasing the downward pressure on the article F.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for applying to the periphery of an article a wrapper having a thermoplastic adhesive surface, comprising a heater having a face engageable with the wrapper for rendering said surface tacky, and a support for holding the wrapper around the article while the wrapped article is presented to the heater, the support having an opening large enough to present therethrough abutting parts of the wrapper of an article laid over the opening, the support and heater having relative movement toward and from each other, and means for guiding the relative movement to bring the wrapper against said face while the article is substantially immovable relatively to the support.

2. A device for applying to the periphery of an article a wrapper having a thermoplastic adhesive surface, comprising a heater having a face engageable with the wrapper for rendering said surface tacky, and a support for holding the wrapper around the article while the wrapped article is presented to the heater, the support having an opening large enough to present to the heater abutting parts of the wrapper of an article laid over the opening, a base upon which the support and heater are mounted for relative movement to bring the wrapper against said face, the support having means to restrain movement of the article relatively to the support during said relative movement.

3. A device for applying to the periphery of an article a wrapper having a thermoplastic adhesive surface, comprising a base, a heater having a face engageable with the wrapper for rendering said surface tacky, a support for holding the wrapper around the article while the wrapped article is presented to the heater, the support having an opening large enough to present to the heater abutting parts of the wrapper of an article laid over the opening and means for mounting the heater and support on the base for relative movement to an operative position in which the wrapper engages said face while the article is substantially immovable relatively to said support.

4. A device for applying to the periphery of an article a wrapper having a thermoplastic adhesive surface, comprising a base, a support mounted to move toward and from the base between inoperative and operative positions, the support having an opening large enough to present therethrough abutting parts of the Wrapper of an article laid over the opening, and heating means mounted on the base in position to heat said abutting parts when said support is moved from inoperative to operative position.

5. A device for applying to the periphery of an article a wrapper having a thermoplastic adhesive surface, comprising a base, a support mounted to move toward and from the base between inoperative and operative positions, the support having an opening large enough to present therethrough abutting parts of the wrapper of an article laid over the opening, and heating means mounted on the base in position to heat said abutting parts and press them together when said support is moved from inoperative to operative position.

6. A device for applying to the periphery of an article a wrapper having a thermoplastic adhesive surface, comprising a base, a support mounted to 'move toward and from the base between inoperative and operative positions, the support having an opening large enough to present therethrough the overlapping ends of the Wrapper of an article laid over the opening, and a heater mounted on the base opposite said opening with a surface shaped to fit said article in the region of said overlapping ends, whereby when the support is moved to operative position the overlapping ends are compressed against said surface of the heater.

'7. A device for applying to the periphery of an elongate article a wrapper having a thermoplastic adhesive surface, comprising a base, a support mounted to move toward and from the base between inoperative and operative positions, the support having an opening large enough to present therethrough the overlapping ends of the wrapper of an article laid over the opening, a narrow bridge extending across said opening to maintain said ends in overlapping relationship While the support is moved to operative position, and heating means mounted on the base in position to heat said overlapping ends when the support reaches said operative position.

8. A device for applying to the periphery of an elongate article a band having a thermoplastic adhesive surface, comprising a base, a support mounted to move toward and from the base between inoperative and operative positions, the support having an opening large enough to present therethrough overlapping ends of the band of an article laid over the opening, a narrow bridge extending across said opening lengthwise of the band to maintain said ends in overlapping relationship while the support is moved to operative position, and a heater mounted on the base opposite said opening with a surface shaped to fit said article in the region of said overlapping ends, the heater having a recess to receive said bridge, whereby said ends are pressed together by said surface when the support is moved to operative position.

CARL A. FLQOD. 

